Carlos Lopez & Admara to the top in Wiesbaden Grand Prix qualifier

Colombia's Carlos Lopez and Admara 2 (Padinus x Murano) have fine-tuned their partnership, and today they took their first victory since they joined forces earlier this year to win the 1.50 Preis des Hessischen Ministerpräsidenten in Wiesbaden. "I don't know him all that well yet, but he is no complicated horse. I will try him in the Grand Prix tomorrow too, and I would like towin there as well. Admara is a really fast horse," said Lopez after the win.

With 19 of the 52 combinations in this 1.50 Grand Prix qualifier moving on to the jump-off, the question was whether or not the course was too easy? "No," said runner-up Eva Bitter representing the host nation Germany aboard Perigueux (Perpignon x Stakkato). "But, perhaps they time allowed could have been a bit tighter."

Only 0.05 seconds separated Lopez and Bitter, who were followed by Dutch rider Marc Houtzager in third on Sterrehof's Calimero (Quidam de Revel x Libero H). Hans-Dieter Dreher continued his good form to end fourth with Theodore Manciais (Kashmir van't Schuttershof x Power Light), while Belgium's Olivier Philippaerts finished fifth on Gitania V G (Cicero x Chellano Z).